More Than a Must See Movie, TRON: Legacy

If you didn't live through the early 1980s you might not be aware of the early computer culture. To a small child, raised by a sci-fi nut, the world was a magical place of arcade games, televisions that asked questions (who knew it was a computer) and a deep fascinating place full of dungeons, dragons, star fighters, neon lights and computer hackers who could do anything they wanted. That is the world that produced TRON, and while the world was not technically ready to create a sci-fi masterpiece, it was thoroughly ready to watch its own burgeoning cyber culture on the big screen.

TRON

Disney released TRON in 1982. It was nominated for six awards; including two Oscar nominations, and won the 1983 Saturn Award for best costumes. The film starred Jeff Bridges, who portrayed Kevin Flynn and Clu, as well as Bruce Boxleitner who played Alan Bradley and TRON.

The film detailed the story of a young computer genius, and hacker, named Kevin Flynn who was pulled into an arcade game after hacking into the Enron 511 computer. Flynn was forced to play a gladiator styled game, as well as beat the computer security system to escape the cyber world he found his prison.

Why have my thoughts turned to TRON? Well, I suppose it may have something to do with the fact that TRON: Legacy is about to appear on the big screen. Believe me, my husband, kids and I will be standing in line to get our 3d glasses so we can watch this new chapter of TRON. It may also be because I have a slight crush on Bruce Boxleitner (HUGE Scarecrow and Mrs. King fan!), either way I will be watching the screen and popping butter flavored popcorn into my open mouth. TRON: Legacy appears to be amazing!

TRON: Legacy

I don't remember the film we were going to watch, but I do remember seeing the neon lights on the movie trailer. I remember hearing my husband inhale and softly exhale the word "TRON." as the movie trailer progressed past its opening scenes. I also know exactly what my eyes must have looked like to anyone who could have seen me in that dark cavernous room; I know because they mirrored my husband's. For a few minutes, we were children experiencing TRON the way it should have been, if technology could have produced it in 1982. We were seeing semi-familiar scenes, and recognizing characters like Alan Bradley and Kevin Flynn. It was decided before the trailer ended, that we would be seeing TRON, whenever it was released, and there was no point in discussing it, we were sucked into TRON's cyber world.

Today, I sit on the cusp of seeing TRON: Legacy. This Saturday we will introduce our children to our childhood, show them what it was like living in a world of computer hackers and arcade games, and because they have a sci-fi nut mother, they are just as excited about seeing TRON: Legacy as I am.

TRON: Legacy basically is a story about a young man whose father (Kevin Flynn) has disappeared. Unbeknownst to anyone, Flynn is transported back into a world of computer games. One night, Alan Bradley receives a page from Flynn's pager, he then notifies Flynn's son, Sam. During his search for his long lost father, Sam is thrust into the same cyber world in which Kevin is held prisoner.

According to Anais' analysis on imdb.com, TRON: Legacy is a real eye-popping film. He states that the 2D and 3D world in the film is a mouth-opening beautiful world. While, Anais thinks the plot is disjointed and that the movie was made to pander to those of us old enough to see the original, I for one can't wait to see it! I hope to see you in the theater, too.

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TRON

TRON: Legacy